A Nigerian Catholic priest has publicly criticised Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen for his on-field disagreement with teammate Ademola Lookman, stating he would drop the Napoli star from the starting lineup if he were in charge of the team.
Priest Faults Osimhen's 'Jagaban' Attitude
Reverend Father Emmanuel Ehioma voiced his strong disapproval following the incident that occurred during Nigeria's 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The win secured Nigeria's place in the tournament's quarterfinals.
The spat between the two attackers happened in the 63rd minute of the match, leading to Osimhen requesting to be substituted. In a Facebook post, Father Ehioma accused Osimhen of behaving as if he were the 'lord' of the team.
"Victor Osimhen is thinking now that he is the jagaban of Super Eagles and he is free to do anything he likes abi. If I be the Coach, I go bench am next match," the priest wrote.
Call for Unity Amidst Public Outburst
While acknowledging that Lookman displayed moments of selfish play during the match, Father Ehioma emphasised that Osimhen's public reaction was far worse. He stressed the critical importance of team unity for success.
"Lookman of course at some point was selfish, I know that but giving that public outburst and causing even rival players to separate you from a physical altercation, that was really bad," he commented further on his post.
The priest added a powerful warning about the dangers of disunity, stating, "Disunity can destroy a team more than anything. We must stay together and play as a unit."
Mixed Reactions from Football Fans
The priest's comments have ignited a fresh wave of debate among Nigerian football supporters, mirroring the original controversy.
Some fans agreed with the priest's stance on discipline. User Mj Nantok supported the view, echoing that "no man is an island to himself."
Others defended Osimhen, citing his crucial role. Chibueze Opara argued strongly against benching the striker, saying, "If you remove Osimhen from the team, Nigeria won't progress to the next stage, that's just the truth. We need someone with that spirit of goals." He pointed out that Osimhen had contributed two goals in the match.
Another fan, Felix Nathan, drew a comparison to the famously hot-headed Italian striker Mario Balotelli, suggesting that top talent sometimes requires management tolerance.
Kingsley Chukwu viewed the incident as part of Osimhen's passionate personality, not disunity. "He has always been a vocal and emotional player. The reaction we are having towards his outbursts was mostly because we won," he noted.
The incident occurred despite both players performing excellently in the game. Lookman scored the opening goal and was involved in creating two more for Osimhen, who netted a brace before their disagreement.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also reportedly sent a message to both players following the rift, highlighting that the altercation has drawn attention from the tournament's governing body.
